OK, here's a topic. My computer has been severely infected with adware/spyware. Not know what this was, yet, I downloaded McAfee's updated virus scan. It detects the unwanted programs loaded, but not the actual adware driver. It's useless for that (in fact they're totally worthless, I can't even find somebody to help from them). Anybody out there know what I need to do? I see there are are Adware/Spyware scanners. Will that remove the problem, or only detect it? I guess after I get it cleaned, I'll then need a firewall. People must get paid an awful lot of money to ruin computers as prevalent as it is, now. I'm even posting this from my work computer as my home computer is practically unusable.
This has come up before. The best one that I have used is Spybot. It detects and cleans spyware and adware. Download here The best part is the price....$0.
http://spybot-spyware.com/ The best I've found so far that doesn't expire and then bug the hell out of you afterwards. Some other things to know / do: 1) Later versions of windows allow you to have multiple users set up - do this and set those user levels lower than Administrator level so some of these Nasty programs can't write to where they want to - because the user-level setting prevents it. 2)Look at C:\windows Directory and sort by date. If you havent' loaded any software in a while, anything near the top is usually junk deposited there by these lovely programs. Either delete them (slightly risky) Or cut them from this directory and make a directory to put them in NOT in the Windows root (i.e. C:\junk)
There are some things Spybot won't find. So run Spybot and also run Ad-Aware (freeware). http://www.lavasoftusa.com/software/adaware/
Jeff is correct. I have them both and run them about once a week. I also run them after I install any software. I wish I could find out how it seems I get spam right after I open Expolorer. Another MS issue I suppose. Larry
Norton Utilities 2003 "System Works" is available right now for about $15 on-line. Already a year old, but is well worth the cost. Amazing what it finds...
